Tom Davis Music Publications

Caston Band: “Three Climates of Man’s Exisitence” Project

tomdavismusic — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 11:31:27 +0000

FULTON , INDIANA

Great iChat session last week on Plains and Jungle!
I know I was pretty picky with you but that kind if attention to detail from the very start will pay off in a big way as you work your way through the music, saving time close to your performance for more nuance and musical shaping!

I’m looking forward to our next session!
If you wish you can post comments or questions on this blog and I will try to answer them right away.

Tom Davis

Locust Grove High School Band: “Three Sculptures of Willard Stone” Project

tomdavismusic — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 11:28:17 +0000

LOCUST GROVE OKLAHOMA

Welcome to the Locust Grove High School Band. I have been working with your director, Mr Bell, to compose something that is uniquely written for your ensemble. In doing so I have done some research about your community and have found that there was a very famous sculptor, Willard Stone from your town.

I have been reading about him and have been captivated by his wood sculptures as well his ability to tell the story of the Cherokee people with his art.

With your permission, I would like to write a concise 3 movement work for you that parallels the STRUGGLE, EXODUS, and HOPE embodied in his work.

Please Take some time to weigh in in on the blog.

I will post more information about Willard stone and some intermittent audio clips of the new music soon.

Tom Davis

Welcome Greece Odyssey Jazz Ensemble

tomdavismusic — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 05:49:40 +0000

FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON
WELCOME GREECE ODYSSEY: GREECE NY

I’m looking forward to hearing from you and working with you -
…. so whenever you are ready to start blogging – DROP ME A LINE!

Tom Davis!

ATU Jazz Ensemble Commission – Composer’s Travel Log

tomdavismusic — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 14:44:36 +0000

INSTRUMENT OF JUSTICE: ATU JAZZ ENSEMBLE: RUSSELLVILLE ARKANSAS
COMPOSERS LOG DAY 1

After significant flight re-routing due to winds, running to catch a plane like that old commerical with the footbal-player-who-shall -remain-forever -nameless, and waiting 4 hours for my bags to catch up to me (they must not run as fast an offensive end). I spent a fine day at ATU talking about improvisation, playing with the improvisation students, discussing tonal gravity, and working with Clay Hooten and the Dardenelle High School Jazz Kids.

All in all I thought that music was communicated on many levels. Evidence? Smiles, Light Bulbs going off (those aha moments!) and – oh yes – I could defeintley hear these musicians THINKING music through their playing. We were communicationg without speaking as it should be!

A great lunch “meeting” with Phillip Parker and Hal Cooper and Tim Howe – great pulled pork!

Dinner at The Howe’s was also very relaxing and pleasant – many thanks for the comfort and hospitality!

I am told I need to get to “Whattaburger” by Shari – so… I will do my best…

I think the nicest thing about this visit is the PRE visiting on skype, through blogging, facebook and my website. I really felt that I know everyone when I meet them and a great deal of teaccheaing took place BEFORE my arrival. In fact I was very easily able to turn the knob up to “11″ rather than only getting ”9″

Tom!

ATU Jazz Ensemble Commission

tomdavismusic — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:30:43 +0000

ATU Logo

Two Skype sessions with the ATU musicians this week. The first was a Jazz Ensemble Rehearsal on Wednesday that revealed some notable improvements in balance, time and approach. I cannot thank the band enough for their attention to the musical values we discussed last week. I am pretty excited to fly out to work with them next week and attending the premier. We spent some quality time on the ending as well as the aleatoric material needed some explanation.

Thursday I was able meet with the soloists (see picture) to discuss some frameworks for improvisation. Tonal gravity was the major topic and the application of those principals in communicating musical ideas to the listener.

I think the amazing thing was that, given the time delay over the internet, we were still able to participate in call and response exercises and share ideas! It just needed to be in 5/4 rather than 4/4!!!

ATU Jazz Ensemble Commission

tomdavismusic — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:11:07 +0000

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Today I worked with the ATU band via the interneet over SKYPE – a video conferencing service. My sense is that we got a great deal of work done and were able to begin to shift a few paradigms regarding balance, blend and intonation. I am finding more and more that if I am going to write music that is demanding of precision in those areas – that I have an obligation to teach those areas well. The notes from that rehearsal can be seem on this quicktime Video on YouTube. Wartch this video by clicking HERE.

Arkansas Tech University Jazz Commission

tomdavismusic — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 21:09:39 +0000

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SCROLLING SCORE – Instrument of Justice

I just loaded a movie of the score with audio on the ATU Facebook Group.
You might like to follow along as you listen. It is pretty cool!

To view the video CLICK HERE

Arkansas Tech Jazz Ensemble Commission

tomdavismusic — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:47:04 +0000

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333 AGAIN?

When I went to the Blog to return a comment the stats read 1,333.

Just a coincidence … right…?

333 Again?

Arkansas Tech Jazz Ensemble Commission

tomdavismusic — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:19:35 +0000

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Instrument of Justice – Plunger Technique Video

A description of plunger set up and performance techniques employed in Instrument of Justice

Play the video HERE

Arkansas Tech Jazz Ensemble Commission

tomdavismusic — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 02:23:02 +0000

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INSTRUMENT OF JUSTICE – VIDEO – USING THE MATRIX FOR IMPROVISATION

Follow this link to view a PowerPoint on the use of the matrix to improvise on Instrument of Justice

The video can be viewed HERE

PDF’s of worksheets can be found HERE